The following day, Josie woke up not feeling as sharp as usual because she didn’t have a good night’s sleep the night before.
At that time, Justin and the others had already finished their breakfast. His leg hadn’t fully healed, so it was propped up on one side. Grape was lying next to him, drawing on his cast with colored pencils.
Upon seeing Josie, Justin remarked, “Oh? You two didn’t share a bed again last night, did you?”
Josie’s face turned red, her ears flaming. She grabbed a pillow and threw it at him. “Stop it. I can sleep by myself!”
Suddenly, Justin was hit by a sudden realization. “Then why have you only woken up now? Were you that tired?”
Josie was cutting her sunny-side-up egg with a knife and fork, and her grip tightened when she heard those words. Yet, a smile remained on her face. “Say that again, and we’ll see if this knife ends up in your face.”
Justin rolled his eyes, but ultimately, he didn’t say anything more.
The mornings were always serene. Justin was frolicking with Grape, while Paul sat quietly on the balcony, basking in the sun. Sometimes, he would ramble on, and Dexter would approach him to converse, indulging in imaginative conversations together.
Josie watched this scene, sometimes feeling dazed. These days, she surprisingly felt the breath of life, more vivid and warm than in Sumanthova.
Grape had whispered to her more than once, “Mommy, I love it here. I love Daddy and Uncle Justin. I also like a lot of the people here.”
Josie was somewhat regretful. If she had known earlier, she wouldn’t have agreed to Dexter’s so-called hundred-day pact. After a hundred days, what am I supposed to do?
Seeing that she hadn’t eaten for quite some time, the housekeeper couldn’t help but step forward to remind her, “Mrs. Russell, this breakfast was personally prepared by Mr. Russell.”
Josie was taken aback. “What did you call me?”
“Mrs. Russell? Is everything okay?” The housekeeper was also puzzled. “Mr. Russell said, as long as you are here, this is how you should be addressed.”
“He’s gone mad.” Josie continued to exert force under her knife. A moment later, she came to her senses and asked, “Did he make this?”
Fried eggs and sandwiches were standard fare for breakfast.
The housekeeper looked bewildered once again. “Didn’t you know? All the food you’ve been eating these past few days was personally prepared by Mr. Russell.”
Josie knew that Dexter could cook, but she hadn’t expected him to be so meticulous, and he had never mentioned it to her.
“You’re lying to me, aren’t you?” Josie didn’t believe the housekeeper.
“It’s true…”
Josie looked up, her gaze landing on the man seated shoulder to shoulder with Paul. The sunlight bathed him, casting an aura of tranquility and cool composure.
For a moment, she was at a loss for words. After a brief pause, she pushed away her plate. “I can’t eat anymore. Throw it away.”
“Um…”
Josie had already walked up to Dexter’s side when she heard Paul muttering, “Jo is a good girl. You must treat her well.”
Josie thought Paul was talking nonsense again.
Dexter, however, was very patient. “All right, Mr. Warren. Don’t worry.”
Paul still remembered many things. “No, I can’t be at ease. I don’t trust you. Let’s sign a divorce agreement. I want to provide some security for Jo!”
Dexter gripped Paul’s hand. “Okay. Okay.”
For a moment, Josie fell silent. It was as if she could see the scene where Dexter had prepared the divorce agreement in advance. Was it actually Pop who had requested that?
Sensing someone’s presence, Dexter turned around. As their eyes met, both were somewhat lost for words.
Josie’s brows furrowed tightly. “You-”
Just as she was starting to speak, Dexter’s phone rang. It was placed a bit far, but closer to Josie. She turned around, picked it up, and handed it over to him.
Josie saw the caller ID, and it was a call from Larry.
Dexter switched to speakerphone. Larry’s voice rang out, and it was filled with excitement. “Mr. Russell, you would never guess who Arnold has sought out.”
